Steve Herbst, a lifelong Palatine resident, has a truly inspirational story.
In 1980 as he was playing football for Palatine High School, he was tackled and suffered a devastating injury. His spinal cord was severed, causing him to become a quadriplegic.
But that fateful incident has not stopped Herbst from living a full life.
He ended up graduating in the top 10 percent of his Palatine High School class, graduated with honors from the University of Illinois, and is now a manager of technology for Allstate Insurance. He also is married to his wife Sue, and the couple have a twin boy and girl, Jack and Grace.
Herbst has always persevered in reaching his goals in life, but now he needs the Palatine community and beyond to rally behind him.
He is entered in a contest through the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA), in which he could win new transportation.
“I have driven a modified van for a number of years, but unfortunately my current abilities and the hand controls I have do not make it safe for me to drive as it is currently set up,” Herbst said.
The contest highlights National Mobility Awareness Month, now in its second year. The ultimate winner will receive a new van that will be modified uniquely to the their specific needs.
Herbst Needs Your Vote-How You Can Help
Now through May 10 is the first round of the contest, and all you need to do is vote for Herbst to win. You are allowed to vote once a day from the same IP address.
The top 5 percent of all vote-getters will then move to the second round, where judges will make the final determination on who the winner will be.
You can vote by going online to http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/steve-herbst-palatine...
A Goal of Continuing Service to the Community
Herbst has not let his injury stop his service to the Palatine community. In addition to coaching youth basketball for more than 20 years, and baseball for nine, he also is a youth committee chairman for Vision in Progress, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of Palatine residence.
He has served on the Palatine Beautification Commission for more than 10 years, and is one of the founders of the Gridiron Alliance, whose goal is to enhance the lives of athletes who experience catastrophic injuries.
“Life is 10 percent what happens to a person, and 90 percent of how one chooses to react and respond. I really believe that and choose to live by that ethic,” is Herbst's motto.
A shining example for all of us. Get online and get out that vote Palatine! Let’s help Steve Herbst win this thing!
